Amazon lowers its free shipping minimum from $49 to $35

A year ago, to the day, Amazon raised the minimum order total that qualifies for free shipping from $35 to $49. Now they’ve reverted the change, so non-Prime members once again only need an order total of $35 once again to qualify for free shipping. This is no doubt a response to Walmart, which introduced a new policy a few weeks ago that provides free shipping on orders of $35 or more. Prime members are not effected by this change and book orders of at least $25 also still receive free shipping at Amazon.

8 comments

I have used both services (Amazon more frequently though). I am not a prime member, but I have always found Amazon’s shipping times to be the best, that could also be my location in the Northeast. The one advantage to Walmart is you can make an immediate return to any store if necessary. Which I have only had to do once. I did think raising the minimum to $50 last year was a bit much though. It all started when gas prices skyrocketed and UPS/Fedex starting charging premiums for shipping. Of course costs have plummeted since then.

They needed too do that in order to compete with Walmart because I started buying things from Walmart because they’re shipping was a better deal. Free 2-day shipping over $35 purchase and that’s with no membership.

Even with Amazon’s New Deal Walmart deal is still better. No membership fee and two day shipping with the sale that is at least $25. 2% Amazon it’s after $30 with standard shipping free 7 – 10 days.. Amazon I think still needs to do better to compete with Walmart which is pretty much their only threat right now.